Speechwriter Delivers Scathing Assessment of Carney's Davos Performance
Prime Minister Mark Carney's January 20 address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland generated substantial media buzz and political commentary across Canada. The speech, delivered to global leaders and business elites, contained veiled criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump's political agenda while promoting Canada's position on the international stage.
Media Praise Versus Professional Critique
Progressive commentators and even some conservative voices expressed enthusiastic approval of Carney's remarks, particularly his declaration that "we know the old order is not coming back ... we shouldn't mourn it" and his emphasis on "the power of legitimacy, integrity and rules." Media descriptions ranged from "powerful" and "remarkable" to "a tour de force," with one political strategist suggesting the Prime Minister had "hit a massive, consequential and needed home run" at the prestigious forum.
However, professional speechwriter Michael Taube, who served former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, offers a contrasting perspective based on his extensive experience crafting speeches for politicians, business leaders, and private citizens.
The Low Bar of Comparison
"Carney's speech was fine," Taube acknowledges, "It was better than anything his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, could have presented, but that's a low bar to begin with." The speechwriter firmly rejects suggestions that the address represents a historic moment or ranks among the most important speeches ever delivered by a Canadian Prime Minister.
Taube echoes National Post columnist Terry Newman's observation that much of the response to Carney's speech has focused on feelings rather than substantive analysis of how it connects to reality. "There was much rhetoric, and plenty of platitudes," Taube notes, "but very little was said when it came to a realistic vision of Canada, the U.S. and our world."
Rhetorical Flourish Versus Substantive Content
The speechwriter doesn't dismiss Carney's entire address as without merit. He acknowledges the Prime Minister's accurate paraphrasing of Vaclav Havel's The Power of the Powerless and finds agreement with certain positions, including Carney's assertion that "a world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile and less sustainable" and his observation that "great powers can afford for now to go it alone ... Middle powers do not."
However, Taube identifies a fundamental problem with these and other elements of the speech: they're overwhelmingly rhetorical in nature. While acknowledging that rhetoric serves as an important tool for creating memorable lines and concepts, Taube argues that Carney's excessive reliance on rhetorical devices left the address lacking in practical value, importance, or consequence.
"An abundance or overemphasis of rhetoric, which Carney utilized in spades," Taube concludes, "means there's little of real value, importance or consequence." The speechwriter's professional assessment suggests that while Carney's performance may have surpassed his predecessor's standard, it ultimately offered more style than substance to the Davos audience and Canadian observers alike.
